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Full Circle: Turning waste into value with your supply chain

OVERVIEW

Now nearly all large product-based companies say they've implemented circular supply chains for recovery and recycling.

But despite the enthusiasm, too many programs remain “skin deep,” failing to capture the full potential of the approach. It’s time to come full circle—transforming supply chain operations and company cultures to build an ecosystem of partners, suppliers and markets that capitalize on circularity.

KEY FINDINGS

Although adoption of circular as a business strategy has hit barriers, the barriers are quickly falling. That’s partly thanks to an inflection point that’s been reached: Digital technologies such as analytics, IoT and sensors are eliminating hurdles when it comes to operational issues like sorting materials and recapturing them. Materials can be traced. Loops can be closed.

Accenture Strategy research shows that digital is a top enabler cited by executives. Ninety percent of companies surveyed believe digital technology has influenced their ability to implement operational changes to deliver circular supply chains, product life extension or waste to value capabilities.

So there are no longer “excuses” for not acting. Except one: According to our research, “lack of leadership/sponsorship” is cited as the top barrier for going circular. And leadership influences other “soft” issues like corporate culture as well.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Break down silos

Circular is disruptive to the organization and requires strategic collaboration across functions such as R&D, procurement, supply chain, manufacturing and marketing.

Start the circle
from the top

Leadership at the very top of the company must create business imperatives, cultural change and governance to promote objectives. And integrated goals and metrics.

Leverage digital

Technologies like IoT and analytics are critical for embedding circularity across operations and ecosystems to increase the ability to track resources and monitor things like utilization and waste capacity.

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